Living room flooring

Hello Martha, We had water issues in our basement family room a few years ago. We had to rip out carpet. We had ceramic tile laid after that. Well, we had water issues again but this time the floor was fine. So, I recommend ceramic tile.

I’ve had this problem with 3 houses.basement! The only thing that works is ceramic tile. Vinyl tile will crack and peel under water, and rugs can get mildew. When you know it’s not likely to get wet ( weather-wise); use an area rug for warmth.

Before you put anything down, make sure the slab is absolutely level !

If I had that problem in my basement, the very first thing I would do is find out why my basement sometimes "takes on water? " A leak anywhere in your home can be very damaging. Then I would consider NATURE STONE. But only if I couldn't find the leak.

Hi Martha, As mentioned above, you really need to address the water issue. It can cause mold and make you and your family very sick! Here's a video you may want to watch on how to water proof your basement: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-waterproof-basement

Good luck!

Relatives had this problem with house in ATlanta.. water seeping in around slab/basement wall joint. They had a french drain put in along the base and it drained off into a sloped area. This was simply a sort of ditch filled with crushed rock.. with one of the "french drain" black plastic pipes with holes in the middle of the rock. We did same thing with an office building we own to keep water from accumulating in a walled off flower bed on one side of building. Water never seeped in onto slab, but we were afraid it would with time. The french drain worked like a charm! The need is to solve the problem.. not just put down a floor covering that will allow you to mop each time. There is bound to be a mold issue down the road.